Method of and device for developing films



G. C. BEIDLER.

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1916.

1,346,780. Patented July 13, 1920.-

' coated surface from contacting another part UNITED STATES PAI'TENT' o IcE.

METHOD 01 AND DEVICE FOR DEVELOP ING FILMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I/ GEORGE C. Baronial a citizen of the United States of Amerlca, and resident of Rochester, in the countypf Monroe and State of New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Devices for De veloping Films, of which the following 18 a specification.

This invention relates to photography and particularly to photographing apparatus in which provision is made for develop ng the sensitized medium, as in photographing and developing apparatus, or in developing a paratus.

This invention is of special importance and advantage in subjecting the film to the action of fluid for developing it or'in connection with the developing process, and, particularly for treating lengths of film wh1ch are practically coextensive in area w1th the field of exposure or the surface exposed.

While it is not my purpose to be limited with respect to the use of the inventlon, an example of its utility may be mentloned as when it is associated with or made a part of means for exposing film to light and means to sever the film which, has been exposed, from a web or roll of film, and which, previous to the cutting operation has been drawn from an exposin chamber, for delivery to the means for eveloping the film.

An object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding, supporting or suspending the film in a liquid adapted to acton its coated surface, aswhen the film is developed, whereby the said coated surface may be accessible and the liquid may uniformly cover the coated surface; furthermore to provide a holding device which will retain the film to prevent one part of the of such coated surface, yet accomplishing the result within a comparatively small receptacle requiring but a small quantity of fluid for the submergence of the portion of the film that has been exposed to light.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the method of subjecting film to the action of fluid; as

well as the apparatus.

In describlng the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawingforming part of this specification,

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed March a, 1916. Serial No. 86,210.

wherein like characters denote correspond- 111%?8168 1n the several views and in whichigure 1 illustrates a view in rspective of a receptacle with a film hol ing means embodying one example of the invention, the v1ew being partly 1n section;

Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of said parts;

Fig. 8 illustrates a transverse sectional view of the receptacle and film holder with conventional illustrations ofcutting devices and film feeding rolls;

Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a fra ment of the receptacle;

ig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a fra ment of the receptacle and a fragment of lm therein;

Fig. 6 illustrates a fragment of the receptacle omitting the film and showing the cover of the receptacle in a different position as compared with its position in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 8 and 9 each illustrate a fragment of a film holder or suspending means embodying a modification; and

Fig. 10 illustrates the feeding mechanism pay 1which film may be delivered to the recep- In that form of the invention illustrated a receptacle 10 for holding a liquid, preferably developer, is placed in position to receive film 11 which may be fed or delivered to it by rolls 12 and 13 and after the film has been delivered to the receptacle it may be cut as by knives 14 and 15. The rolls 1 2' between the cover and receptacle.

The film holding or suspending element in the form of the invention illustrated, comprises an apron like structure constitutin a guide, and as illustrated in Fi s. 1, 2 an 3 it consists of a metallic plateof a material which will not be injurlously affected by establish a sliding and guiding connection and 23, and spaced apart in order that film' may travel in the space and be guided by the curved plate. It will be observed that the film enters what may be termed the side of the convolutions of the holder rather than the end of the said holder.

By choice the back or uncoated surface of the film should be next to the apron or vertical portion of the plate as it enters the receptacle and when so introduced the coated surface of the film is not likely to come into contact with the plate and the fluidin the receptacle will more readily find its way to such coated surface uniformly, since the back of the film appears to follow and engage the surface of the plate as said film travels the circuitous path outlined by said convolutions.

The suspending device may be held in the receptacle by the hooked end as in Fig. 1, or the hook may be omitted as shown in Fig. 6, and the plate or apron may be fastened in any appropriate way, as by brazing or the like directly to the side of the receptacle.

In operating to treat film, the said film is applied or delivered to the receptacle and as it travels in the receptacle it is guided by the convolutions of the curved supporting device and is loosely coiled in order that the liquid within the receptacle may. reach the coated surface of the film. In the delivery of the film to the receptacle a small margin of film, which is the portion between the knife and the top of the receptacle, projects from the said receptacle and the film may be drawn'from the receptacle in an desired manner. That is to say, it may e drawn mechanically, by means not shown, (as such mechanically operated drawing devices are a part of the prior art, such a device need not be shown herein) or the fihn may be manually drawn from the receptacle by grasping the pro'ecting margin of the film and pulling it. he projecting end of the film may be flexed to render it more accessible, and one example of this operation is disclosed in Fig. 5, where the cover of the receptacle is slid outward so that the edge or wall of the slot of the cover engages the film and presses it against the edge of the receptacle, thus bending or flexing the film beyond the side wall of the receptacle. The film can be pressed against the upper surface of the sliding cover and when said cover is moved outward, the film .will be drawn with it, but it is perhaps preferable to means for pushin grasp the film. using the digits of the hand. 11 the relation of parts illustrated in Fig. 5, the liquid on the film will be displaced toa great extent, if the film is drawn from the receptacle by hand, as the film would then be in contact with the cover and with the stationary portion of the receptacle or supporting device.

To illustrate how it is possible to modify the construction of the suspending or supporting element, a few examples of the materials which may be employed are illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9., In Fig. 7 there is shown a fragment of a late24, the said plate being perforated. n Fig. 8 a fragment of wire netting or screen 25 is shown, and such material may be used in makin' the element for sup ortin the film in the receptacle. Or, as s own in Fig. 9, a series of bars or rods may be bent in the shape of the supporting element and these bars or rods may be attached to the receptacle.

I claim- 1. The method of subjecting film to developer consisting in pushing film into a developer container having a coil therein and causing the film to coil in a spiral form with spaces between the adjacent volutions of the coil.

. 2. The method of subjecting film to a developer consisting in pushing film into the side of a substantially coil form supporting member immersed in developer whereby the 'film travels in the space between the volutions of the member.

3. In a device relating to photography, a coil-form film holder having spaces between the volutions of the coil, means for pushing film into the holder whereby the film travels in the space between the volutions of the coil and follows the volutions of the coil.

4. In a device relating to photography, a film supporting device comprising a member having convolutions to receive film, a receptacle for containing the said member, and the film edgewise into the side of the said member.

5. In a device relating to photography, :1. film supporting means having convolutions to receive and coil film when the film is pushed into the said supportin means, and a receptacle for containing sai means.

6. In adevice relating to photography, a film holding means having convolutions to uide and coil a film when the free advanc mg end of the film is delivered to it edgewise.

7. In a device relating to photography, a member having convolutions around which film may be coiled, and means externally of the said member for forcing film therein and causing it to follow the convolutions of the said member. 8. In a device relating to (photography, means for delivering film e gewise to a holder and a holder to receive the film and adapted to coil the film as said film travels into said holder.

9. In a device relating to photography, at film supporting means having eonvolutions to receive and coil :1 film when the film is pushed into said supporting means, a recepele for containing said means, and a slotted cover on'the receptacle through which the film is delivered.

In testimony whereof, I nfiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. BEIDLER. Witnesses R. B. LA Fonon, E. W. HAMILTON. 

